Wednesday, June 27, 2012

HOMELESS LGBT YOUTH, By Jerry S. Maneker


...when statistics show that as many as 40% of the nation’s homeless youth are gay or transgender, compared to 3-5% of the overall youth population, we have to acknowledge that we’re facing a crisis. The disparity suggests that gay and transgender youth stand a much higher chance of becoming homeless because of abuse, neglect and familial rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity that drive them to the streets.The kids on the Christopher Street Pier that day, and the other gay and transgender youth living on the streets who make up the 40% have done nothing wrong, other than being born the way they were supposed to be.  And because of who they are, these kids have been forced to leave their homes, subjected to abuse or worse.

[For the full article, see here.]

Homophobic clergy can be seen to be the major factor when parents kick their kids out of the house, forcing them to be homeless, because their children came out to them, thinking that they could trust their parents to understand and unconditionally love them.  Indeed, this is the way it would be were it not for homophobic clergy's influence in lying about same-sex attraction and love!

All too many people believe the lies emanating from the ignorance and/or hatred of these clergy, and that is one of the reasons why churches should not enjoy tax exempt status, and why one of the best methods of activism is to choose one homophobic church in a given city or jurisdiction and consistently, and continuously, picket that church every Sunday during their services, telling people that  that church is preaching a false Gospel, and is diametrically opposed to Jesus' teachings.

Homophobic clergy are erroneously felt to be speaking for God, and erroneously felt to be correctly interpreting the Bible!  These assumptions are not true!  And any parent who would kick their Gay child out of the house is engaging in the demonic, as is any clergy who says that being Gay is "disordered" and is a "sin."  

Just because someone turns his collar around doesn't necessarily make him/her a person of God!  He/she might well be working for the devil!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Shooting of Lesbian Teens in Texas Sparks Outcry

 
Posted June 25th, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org

Heartbreak and Horror in Texas Shocks Nation, Says TWO

Burlington, Vt. – Truth Wins Out called for swift justice today after two teenage girls in a five-month relationship were shot in a Portland, Texas park with one of the girls dying from head injuries.
Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Christine Chapa, 18, were found in knee-deep grass in a nature area in Portland on Saturday. Olgin, who recently moved to Corpus Christi, died; Chapa, of Sinton, was taken to the hospital where she had surgery and is listed in serious but stable condition, according to local NBC affiliate kristv.com.
“We call on the police and public officials in Portland to ensure that justice is served and the savages behind this sadistic slaying are placed behind bars,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We are deeply saddened by the heartbreak and horror that just occurred in Texas. We hope that Chapa fully recovers and our thoughts are with both families in this tragic time.”
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Congressman Barney Frank Speaks on Medical Marijuana

Friday, May 04, 2012

NC Pastor Video: Promoting Child Abuse or Not? You Judge

Visit Good As You for the full story.

The Christian Monitor has put their own spin on this issue; check out their article titled:

LGBT Groups Attack NC Pastor Before Gay Marriage Vote

There is a vigorous dialog in the comments section if you wish to read what others are saying and/or share your own thoughts.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

We have recently started to accept advertising here on LLL, and I would like to acknowledge doctorshealthpress.com as being the first to extend their partnership to us. When you click on the provided link you will be taken to a website that discusses the importance of nutrition in health pertaining to how our brain functions, and how as we age we may not feel as sharp as we used to. You are given the option of leaving your name and email so that a full report of the latest issues can be sent to you daily by Dr. Victor Marchione and his team. All 12 brain boosting foods are listed for interested parties to more fully inform themselves about.

When I was battling cancer (pheochromocytoma) I got a crash course in what foods were anti-oxidants and I believe my choosing to use this information to my advantage is one of the primary reasons I survived my situation. Feel free to take a look at this site and leave feedback as to what you think. Again, the website is  doctorshealthpress.com.

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters Blogger Uncovers Secret Anti-Gay Facebook Page

Our friend Alvin McEwen brings up the following, republished here with his permission from his website http://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/:

 

'Secret anti-gay Facebook scandal explodes on Huffington Post' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Facebook Group, Included NOM Co-Founder, Fox News Pundit And More - Lord give me strength. I just made the top story of the Huffington Post.

Ministers Betray the Black Community by Defending Race-Baiting Group - Well this WAS going to be the leading post in today's news briefs. It is something I wrote then forgot about. The basic gist - any black minister who supports the exploitation of his/her people deserves a scathing so vicious that it would take the paint off of walls. I hope I did a good job here.

Video: Newt hopes he can impart his electoral karma onto North Carolina; me too - So Newt Gingrich, a man who has been married three times is giving advice on protecting marriage? Puleazeeee!

Missouri Don’t Say Gay Bill Sponsor: ‘There Is No Need To Talk About Billy Wanting To Marry A Goat’ - I've been known to date some "dogs" but I have never felt the inclination to marry a goat. LOL

Monday, April 16, 2012

Don Gorton: Anti-Gay Activist Scott Lively Causes Uproar At Boston Tea Party Rally

An April 15th Patriot’s Day rally on Boston Common sponsored by the “North Shore Tea Party” drew a spirited turnout, but was not what organizers planned. Featured speakers Scott Lively and Brian Camenker, who lead the two Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate groups in Massachusetts, shifted the focus of the event away from the fiscal issues the “tea party” movement purports to emphasize to the social issues many Republicans would rather avoid. Lively is best known for his role in promoting the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” pending in the Ugandan Parliament, which would impose the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.” Camenker stands out for his strident opposition to safe schools programming designed to reduce bullying and harassment of LGBT youth.  The controversy Lively and Camenker touched off resonated even before the rally, as Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico, cancelled his plans to appear at the event. A crowd of approximately 75 tea party activists gathered round the bandstand on the Common to hear speakers representing groups like “Show ID to Vote,” “Newsbusters” and the Mass. Republican Assembly. From the outset about 20 protestors from Join the Impact MA stood along the edge of the surrounding sidewalk quietly holding signs condemning Lively and Camenker for their homophobic advocacy. Just before Lively’s and Camenker’s turns at the podium came, roughly 100 exuberant protestors from the Occupy movement charged onto the scene chanting loudly and waving signs. The din became an uproar as Lively took the microphone. In his speech, Lively blasted conservatives who would minimize the importance of social issues. Then he denounced LGBT rights activists as “fascists” who were intent on destroying civilization. Camenker met with similar pushback as he criticized the work of GLSEN for allegedly promoting homosexual recruitment of public school students—in reference to the group’s efforts to prevent anti-LGBT bullying. Lively and Camenker were loudly booed, and much of their speech-making was drowned out by Occupy chants and “mic check” counterpoint. Not all counter-protestors joined the chanting. I argued that Lively and Camenker should be allowed to speak, both out of respect for freedom of expression and because they tend to discredit the opposition to LGBT equality when their extremist views are publicized. Yet the passions these two hate group leaders stir are difficult to contain. Tea Party organizers learned that giving a platform to anti-gay bigotry effectively drowns out any other message they may seek to propagate. The Boston Police kept the peace while allowing everyone an opportunity to be heard. By the time anti-government activist Carla Howell took the podium after Camenker, most of the “tea party” attendees had frittered away, the momentum of the rally dissipated.  

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Truth Wins Out Uncovers Fundi Ties To "Invisible Children" Cause

Truth Wins Out



 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118

Invisible Children's Robust Ties to The Family Suggest Invisible Fundamentalist Agenda

Producers of KONY 2012 Are Cozy With Organization Linked to Uganda's Notorious 'Kill the Gays' Bill   

NEW YORK - Truth Wins Out expressed deep concern today that Invisible Children (IC), the non-profit made famous by its recent KONY 2012 video, shares profound ties with The Family (aka The Fellowship), the secretive fundamentalist organization widely believed to be behind Uganda's infamous 'Kill the Gays' bill, which if passed would harshly punish LGBT people for the "crime" of homosexuality.

An exhaustive report released today by researcher Bruce Wilson reveals alarming social and professional associations between the two groups. This includes a network of elite evangelical indoctrination centers in Uganda, which groom Christian youth for future leadership roles in the country. The new report comes at a critical time, one day before Invisible Children releases its much-anticipated video sequel to KONY 2012.

"Invisible Children has portrayed itself as a group of idealists, but new evidence suggests that they may be ideologues who are engaging in stealth evangelism," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "Their profound ties to a notorious group like The Family raise alarming questions about the group's genuine motives, actual goals, and real intentions."

The Family/Fellowship is a secretive U.S.-based brotherhood of international political and business leaders.  Founded in 1935, its growing political clout was brought to widespread public notice with a 2002 Los Angeles Times report by Lisa Getter, then exposed in subsequent articles and two books by journalist Jeff Sharlet: The Family and C Street: The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy.

At least two of Invisible Children's programs have involved collaboration with The Fellowship and its members. By 2007, Invisible Children was described by both Fellowship and Invisible Children staffers as having partially merged its developing school and mentoring programs in Uganda with The Fellowship's Ugandan educational and leadership training system, which works to raise up a cadre of elite Jesus-centered leaders who will transform their nation along "Biblical" lines - with one apparent objective being the categorical elimination of homosexuality.

The stated philosophy of Invisible Children's Ugandan educational programs closely mirrors the stated philosophy behind The Fellowship's Cornerstone Leadership academies. Neither program seeks to maximize educational opportunities for large numbers of Ugandans. Rather, both programs foster small numbers of exceptionally talented students selected from at-risk populations; both programs also state explicitly that their goal is to raise up a generation of Ugandan leaders who will transform their nation.

Toward that end, both programs employ mentors who are paired with individual students and provide a crucial quasi-parental support system. Further, both mentoring programs have been supervised by Ugandan Fellowship member Paul Lukwiya, now Education Director for The Fellowship's Ugandan leadership training schools.

In Spring 2007 - little more than a year and a half after the Invisible Children nonprofit was launched - Paul Lukwiya is reported to have traveled with IC members to the United States, where he spoke before an April 28, 2007 Invisible Children Seattle rally.

"Invisible Children's connection to The Fellowship's network provides an explanation of IC's early access to internationally powerful politicians; less than a year after the nonprofit was launched in 2005, Invisible Children had already gained political backing, from U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, both important Fellowship members," according to Wilson's research.

Jason Russell and other top Invisible Children leaders also work with Raan and Shea Parton, the co-founders of Apolis Global, a California for-profit boutique-clothing brand. The Apolis Global co-founders are alumni of The Fellowship's National Youth Leadership Forum.

"Given the incestuous ties, it is sometimes difficult to tell where Invisible Children ends and The Family begins," said TWO's Wayne Besen. "What is vexing is that both groups rightfully despise the murderous actions of Joseph Kony, but appear to be comfortably in the pocket of Uganda's oppressive fundamentalist Christian dictator Yoweri Museveni. If these groups truly stand for freedom and liberty, it is difficult to understand their cozy relationship with the Ugandan strong man."

To connect the dots linking The Family and Invisible Children, please read Wilson's report in its entirety.

Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

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Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to Truth Wins Out today. We can only continue fighting for equality with your help.  
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Friday, March 30, 2012

Truth Wins Out: Hate Group "National Organization for Marriage" Caught Race-Baiting

Posted March 27th, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Becker, Director of Communications
Phone: 920-265-6023
Email: john@truthwinsout.org
Internal Documents Show NOM Displayed Staggering Disrespect for African-Americans, Latinos, Says TWO
BURLINGTON, Vt – Truth Wins Out expressed disgust today about newly-unsealed documents from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) — the organization that fights marriage equality nationwide — that reveal a vile and repugnant strategy of setting African-American, Latino, and LGBT minorities against each other through the shameful exploitation of race.
The documents, including reports and updates filed with NOM’s board of directors, explicitly state the organization’s disrespectful plan to exploit African Americans in the marriage equality battle. NOM’s strategic goal is to “drive a wedge between gays and blacks,” “[fan] the hostility raised in the wake of [California’s] Prop 8,” and “develop a media campaign around [African Americans’] objections to gay marriage as a civil right.” To assist in the electoral pushback against same-sex marriage, NOM seeks to enlist “attractive young black Democrats to challenge white gay marriage advocates.”
“The stunning degree of crass exploitation and diabolical political tactics revealed in these documents is unconscionable,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This is a smoking gun that clearly shows a profound disrespect for the very minority groups that NOM is targeting. Clearly, divisiveness and dishonesty are what fuels the anti-marriage equality movement.”
NOM’s outreach strategy to the Latino community is also discussed in detail: “Our ultimate goal is to make opposition to gay marriage an identity marker, a badge of youth rebellion to conformist association to the bad side of ‘Anglo’ culture” and “a symbol of resistance to inappropriate assimilation.” One memo even referred to the anti-equality Latino leaders that NOM hoped to recruit as “ethnic rebels.”
“NOM’s strategy is patronizing, cynical, and disrespectful at its core,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications. “Any organization that resorts to such blatant manipulation for selfish political gain deserves widespread condemnation.”
Another section makes it clear that NOM intends to export its hateful bile beyond the borders of the United States, despite the devastating consequences that American-exported homophobia has already had in places like Uganda. The group states that it is in the process of “creating [templates] that can be used abroad” because it recognizes that “marriage needs to be a national (and ultimately international) effort.”
Still another section touts the group’s close relationship with Catholic bishops and reveals NOM’s plans to use those relationships to “equip, energize and moralize Catholic priests on the marriage issue.” The implementation of this strategy has been painfully obvious of late, as bishops have cracked down on priests who oppose the church’s persecution of LGBT people, a lesbian in a committed relationship was denied communion at her mother’s funeral, and a Catholic diocese forced one of its schools to fire its gay music director because he married his partner of 20 years.
“Today’s revelations,” said Becker, “prove what we’ve known all along: that NOM is willing to say and do whatever it takes – whether it’s blatant race-baiting, spreading malicious anti-gay propaganda, or using religious leaders as weapons with which to bludgeon LGBT people from the pulpits and in their parishes – in order to prevent loving, committed same-sex couples from winning the freedom to marry.”
Truth Wins Out is a national nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism, religion-based bigotry, and the “ex-gay” myth. Its goal is to create a world where LGBT people can live openly, honestly, and true to themselves. TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies, and exposes their leaders. It specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating, and fighting for LGBT equality.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Bitter Thoughts As New Hampshire Votes On Same Sex Marriage Rights Yet Again

Gen. John Stark coined "Live Free or Die!"

Today all eyes are on Concord, New Hampshire, where HB 437, sponsored by State Rep. David Bates, unsuccessfully attempted to rescind same sex marriage rights in New Hampshire. This vote has the attention of most of the country, if not the world, since New Hampshire is the birthplace of much of our nation's heritage and roots in valor and patriotism.

The motto of New Hampshire is "Live Free or Die!" and has come to serve as the battle cry in the spirit of valor and freedom that founded the United States. This phrase was coined by General John Stark, a revolutionary war hero who, at the request of the Massachusetts Minutemen (predecessors to the United States Marines) raced to their aid and helped hold Breed Hill, creating a condition so difficult for the British to invade that they had to change their plans, setting the stage for the Battle of Bunker Hill.

That motto stems from a letter sent 20 years after the Revolutionary war by Stark in which he states defiantly "Live Free or Die! Death is not the worst of Evils". He was talking about the opression of the British and was meant to inspire us to continue fighting for our freedom always. New Hampshire might have a lot of granite in it, but if you ask anyone who has been there they would tell you it is the resolve of the people that is the granite referred to in our nickname.

The ramifications of HB 437 isn't just about the freedom of same sex couples to marry who they choose; this issue runs much deeper in my eyes, but unlike Rep. David Bates, I am a native Granite Stater. 

I wonder what Stark would say today knowing that the freedoms he and thousands since have shed their blood and very lives to defend has become a political tool for one party to use against another as a wedge issue during a presidential election year by an outsider who came into our state and decided he knew better how to run our governent than we natives do.


This is according to Rep. Bates' own words shown in this 2006 campaign video he made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ycNRzEuwqU&feature=related

My marriage to Raymond is protected (for the moment at least) by a grandfather clause which will establish a similar situation in New Hampshire that is now in place in California, where those who have already been married will continue to be recognized, but those seeking same sex marriage in the future will be turned away and asked to settle for civil unions. I fight this cause on principle alone; it's just not right.

New Hampshire had civil unions, they didn't give equal protections, and equality was important enough to our citizens that we enacted same sex marriage years ago.

No one has been able to prove any injury against one against this form of equality, if they could have we wouldn't be needing a vote. I like most people I know was raised to understand that if what you're doing harms others you should stop the moment you understand this to be true. However, I will not compromise my freedoms for unfounded fears and the use stereotyping meant to deny me my right to be judged by the content of my character and through my personal actions. I am an individual, not a faceless part of a malevolence aimed at harming society. We all deserve to be seen as such at least by our government.



Those of you who would allow yourselves the intellectual laziness of not checking all your facts should be ashamed of youselves. You've perpetuated this issue long enough, and it is a shame that I would hold myself to a higher standard (on which we as citizens voluntarily agree on) of honesty and failty to the oath we share than you if the situation were reversed. That standard being the Constitution of the United States.

In the end we will still have gay couples living together freely and openly as legally married. HB437, if ever motivated by something other than bigotry accomplishes nothing, other than to allow us to scuttle all that our state is known to be great for; fiercely defending liberty in all it's forms, NOT just the ones we agree with.

In my opinion the mere presence of this bill and the vote that takes place underscores "the death of reason" taking place across America today, where one man feels free to bear false witness against another while his cronies stand as judge and jury, and the public stands back, uneducated and uncaring about the outcome.



The real trouble comes when America realizes too late that the actions against same sex marriages throughout the country have been a test model for bigger things, and when those bigger things come those who stand to gain from lies they spread will have grown confident that we as a people will again stand back and do nothing, because that is what we have grown used to doing rather than defending what once cost us so much to gain.

"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." ~Adolf Hitler
In order to keep people informed here is the text of HB 437 being voted on today:


Floor Amendment to HB 437-FN

(2012-1288h)

Proposed by Rep. Bates

Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:

AN ACT relative to civil unions and the definition of marriage.

Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:

­1 New Chapter; Civil Unions. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 457-A the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 457-B

CIVIL UNIONS

457-B:1 State Recognition of Civil Unions; Purpose. The state of New Hampshire recognizes the civil union between one man and another man or one woman and another woman. The purpose of this chapter is to delineate the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of parties entering a civil union, to establish a process by which the civil union is established, and to provide a process for the dissolution of a civil union.

457-B:2 Requisites. Parties entering into a civil union shall be subject to the same requirements and conditions as contained in RSA 457, provided that civil unions shall only be allowed between one unmarried man and another unmarried man both of whom are at least 18 years of age or one unmarried woman and another unmarried woman both of whom are at least 18 years of age, subject to the prohibitions in RSA 457-B:3 and RSA 457-B:4 and provided that they are not in another civil union.

457-B:3 Civil Unions Prohibited; Men. No man shall enter into a civil union with his father, his grandfather, his father’s brother, his mother’s brother, his son, his brother, his son’s son, his daughter’s son, his brother’s son, his sister’s son, his father’s brother’s son, his mother’s brother’s son, his father’s sister’s son, or his mother’s sister’s son.

457-B:4 Civil Unions Prohibited; Women. No woman shall enter into a civil union with her mother, her grandmother, her father’s sister, her mother’s sister, her daughter, her sister, her son’s daughter, her daughter’s daughter, her brother’s daughter, her sister’s daughter, her father’s brother’s daughter, her mother’s brother’s daughter, her father’s sister’s daughter, or her mother’s sister’s daughter.

457-B:5 Forms, Documents, and Applications; How Performed. The secretary of state shall develop forms, documents, and applications for entering into a civil union, which shall conform to this chapter. Civil unions shall be performed pursuant to the provisions of RSA 457:31 and entered into pursuant to the analogous provisions of RSA 5-C:41-61. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a minister or clergyman or clergywoman to solemnize or perform a civil union.

457-B:6 Rights, Obligations, and Responsibilities. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the parties who enter into a civil union pursuant to this chapter shall be entitled to all the rights and subject to all the obligations and responsibilities provided for in state law that apply to parties who are joined together pursuant to RSA 457.

457-B:7 Dissolution. Parties who have entered into a civil union who wish to dissolve the civil union shall do so pursuant to RSA 458.

457-B:8 Other Jurisdictions. A civil union or a marriage between a man and another man or a woman and another woman legally contracted outside of New Hampshire shall be recognized as a civil union in this state, provided that the relationship does not violate the prohibitions of this chapter.

­2 Marriage; Purpose and Intent. RSA 457:1 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

457:1 Purpose and Intent. The legislature finds and declares that:

I. The state has a compelling interest in recognizing and maintaining the distinctiveness of a marital union between opposite-sex couples due to its unique procreative potential.

II. Every child has a natural human right to love, support, and nurturing by his or her natural mother and father, whenever possible. Marriage is the primary social institution that promotes this ideal and encourages its achievement.

III. Only the union of one man and one woman shall be recognized as marriage in New Hampshire; except however, any marriage recognized as valid in the state prior to the effective date of this section shall continue to be recognized as valid on or after the effective date of this section.

­3 Marriageable. Amend RSA 457:4 to read as follows:

457:4 Marriageable. No male below the age of 14 years and no female below the age of 13 years shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage [that is entered into by one male and one female], and all marriages contracted by such persons shall be null and void. [No male below the age of 18 and no female below the age of 18 shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage between persons of the same gender, and all marriages contracted by such persons shall be null and void.]

­4 Repeal. The following are repealed:

I. RSA 457:1-a, relative to equal access to marriage

II. RSA 457:31-b, relative to solemnization of marriage; applicability.

III. RSA 457:45, relative to civil union recognition.

IV. RSA 457:46, relative to obtaining legal status of marriage.

­5 Severability. The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act is invalid, or if any application thereof to any person or circumstance is invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

­6 Ballot Question. There shall be placed on the ballot at the next statewide election a question to determine voter support for civil unions and defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The question on the ballot shall be: “Shall New Hampshire law allow civil unions for same-sex couples and define marriage as the union of one man and one woman?” The question shall be followed by 2 squares, one with the word “yes” beside it and another with the word “no” beside it. If no cross or mark is made in either of the squares, or if a mark is made in both of the squares, then the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The secretary of state shall certify the results to the legislature, and the results shall not be binding.

7 Effective Date.

I. Sections 1-4 of this act shall take effect March 31, 2013.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes civil unions, defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and submits a question about the legislation to the voters at the next general election.

Monday, March 05, 2012

Laws Against YouTube Youth Violence Needed



Everyone knows that assault is criminal, and that it happens every day. We also know that violence in schools has led to a new phenomena taking form as YouTube fight videos. Children attack one another while a third party records the event, and it gets posted on YouTube.com as a form of entertainment. While we can expect our neighbors to be diligent in the raising of their children we cannot legislate it, and their will always be that certain neighbor's kid who has no parental block on his computer, and is sharing these dreadful videos with other children. We as adults need to step up to the plate and do something that makes a difference so that children cannot continue to share these videos with each other. So who is held accountable and why?

Personally I think Google, which owns YouTube, could be doing a lot more than they have to curb this issue. Their response is that there are too many videos to preview before making them public, however, viewers can file a complaint about the video to alert them that it is inappropriate in some manner. I believe that the measure of their response has been so meager that it approaches criminal accomplice to the delinquency of minors.

I've examined five videos to be sure they are inappropriate according to Google's own standards, and I have reported them to see just how long it takes Google to respond to these complaints and act in accordance with its own policies. Anyone can do this with a simple click of their mouse. To the right of the button marked "Share" underneath the video is the "Flag" option. When you hit this icon the following dialog appears:




Report this video as inappropriate

Please select the category that most closely reflects your concern about the video, so that we can review it and determine whether it violates our Community Guidelines or isn't appropriate for all viewers. Abusing this feature is also a violation of the Community Guidelines, so don't do it.
It will then ask you to select a reason, to which you select "Violent or repulsive content" and a secondary menu appears offering the option "Youth Violence". The last step is to click on "Submit video for review". You'll know you are done when you have a response stating "Thank you for sharing your concerns".


Here are some excerpts defining those policies:

Graphic or gratuitous violence is not allowed. If your video shows someone being physically hurt, attacked, or humiliated, don't post it.


Videos involving children (anyone under the age of 18) are particularly sensitive. Videos containing children should never be sexually suggestive or violent. Please be cautious when posting something involving a child. If you’re sharing a private moment or home movie, consider making it a private video so that only your family and friends can see it.



Here are the videos I have chosen as a test of Google's ability to police their own site when complaints have been made. Let the public can see the level of diligence Google has offered for such outrageous videos:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjHc8BkPFBM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W3t1CvxEWI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9CO3KP2_B0&feature=endscreen&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K5GONfVB88&feature=fvwp&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t983WCz9qhA

If these links lead you to a video that you can watch then Google has still not removed them. My question to the public is simple; now that you know, what are YOU going to do about it? Here is something to consider doing right now:

http://www.change.org/petitions/youtube-aka-google-stop-allowing-child-violence-videos-on-youtube 

Video: NH Rep. David Bates Speaks On Same Sex Marriage

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Truth Wins Out: Tomorrow, We Tell Newt What You’ve Always Wanted to Say


Posted February 8th, 2012 by Wayne Besen
Are you are sick and tired of serial adulterer Newt Gingrich preaching about the “sanctity of marriage?” At Truth Wins Out, we think it takes breathtaking chutzpah for Newt to deny loving, committed same-sex couples the same freedom to marry that he himself has enjoyed three times.
On Thursday, TWO is placing aprovocative full-page ad in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call slamming Newt Gingrich for his stunning hypocrisy. Our ad’s headline: “Newt Gingrich: Talks Like a Preacher, Lives Like a Porn Star.”
This controversial ad will be launched just one day before Newt speaks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington. Conservative icons like Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Sarah Palin, and Tony Perkins will all be attending. The ad will send a powerful message to all the self-righteous, hypocritical phonies at CPAC and expose the truth — they are not “pro-family,” just anti-gay.
Our ad closes by saying, “On behalf of loving, life-long same sex couples: Newt, you are a spectacular hypocrite. Shame on you!”
Can we count on you to stand with us? Please help TWO say “Shame on you, Newt!” with a strong voice. Help cover the cost of tomorrow’s ad.
The timing for this ad couldn’t be better. This week, Proposition 8 — California’s voter-approved ban on marriage equality — was again ruled unconstitutional in federal court. Gingrich wasted no time attacking the ruling, saying: “With today’s decision on marriage by the Ninth Circuit, and the likely appeal to the Supreme Court, more and more Americans are being exposed to the radical overreach of federal judges and their continued assault on the Judeo-Christian foundations of the United States.”
At Truth Wins Out, we believe that bigoted, self-righteous religious extremists like Newt Gingrich are the real threat to America, not loving and committed same-sex couples. His arrogant attacks cannot go unchallenged.
If you agree, I urgently you to stand with me today.
Our hard-hitting ad was expensive. Truth Wins Out needs your helpto cover the cost. Please join our effort to educate America and shame the hypocrites by making a tax-deductible contribution of $5, $10, or even $25 today. If you have more to give, please consider a $300 tax-deductible contribution — one hundred dollars for each of Newt’s marriages.
Thank you for your support. Together, we can push back against sanctimonious bullies like Newt and create a better world for future generations.
** TWO thanks our own Bruce Garrett for drawing the amazing cartoon!

Friday, February 03, 2012

Single Mother of Three Battles Inequality in New Hampshire School

I'm tempted to call it the magic headband. From the day the 8-year-old transgender student wore it to class, there was a transformation. The angry, screaming child who would flip over desks suddenly became a happy scholar.

Who could find problems with that?
ID note: To respect the privacy of all involved as this unfolds, this identifies the child only by first name, does not reveal the locale or school, and cites the grandmother as GM and mother as Mommy. 
Source note: My j-school/newspaper background normally has me going to multiple sources. This draws almost entirely on the candid conversation with GM. Future updates may include lawyers, the therapist, the principal or others, but there's plenty in the experiences from her view.
The principal of the school was among those who has not yet learned to deal with John presenting as Jen. In particular, she'd like Mommy and GM to punish Jen for using the girls restroom and apparently claims Jen will do so "over my dead body." Unfortunately, in New Hampshire, the legislature rejected the bill that would add legal protections to transgender children and adults. The other New England states prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.


For the rest of the article please CLICK HERE and be redirected to the excellent website of Mike Ball called "Marry in Massachusetts".